Sunday, January 21, 2007

Clinton/Obama: if you don't see what you want, ask for it

David Seaton's News Links

So, for the moment, Democrats seem to be facing the choice between Hillary (stand by your man) Clinton and Barack (black-no-black) Obama.

At perhaps the most omminous fork in the road in the republic's history since the civil war, progressive voters are asked to choose between someone whose every word and gesture have been previously bench tested to ensure a level of triangulation that guarantees her being all things to all men, and... well, someonewhose entire life story is a triangulation.

This moment in America's history is a moment of America turning from a republic into an empire; and not some splendid empire, like Victorian Britain's or early Rome, but an instantly decadent empire with the barbarians already in costume at the gates, a fast food version of "Fellinni's Satyricon".At such a juncture, a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket just isn't good enough.

Personally, I am sick to death of all this slickness. It would seem that what is needed right now is someone a bit more "authentic", somebody a bit deep... someone who combines thought and action. A Lincoln, a Roosevelt... even a Herbert Hoover would stand out in this crowd. Perhaps someone of distinction who isn't actually "running" (lovely word) should be drafted as Eisenhower was in 1952. Both the Republicans and the Democrats wanted Ike as their candidate then, and although he seemed a terrible bore at the time, Eisenhower would look like a giant compared to what's being offered this year.

I fear, that at this crucial moment, the Democrats will follow the advice of the seminal philosopher of our times, Doctor Yogi Berra, who once pithily said, "if you come to a fork in the road, take it."DS